Connecticut western news., 1887-10-19
THE CONVICT IN PRISON.
A Story that Upsets the Total De-
 pravity Theory.

"A good many years ago, I won't say how many, but 1t was before I had seen much service as q prison manager, this Bill - was sentenced to the Albany Penitentiary. He arrived, ugly lips compressed, brow corrugated, eyes fash ing baleful fire. I was in the office at the time, but a message was promptly sent to me and l soon faced him. l , found that Bill had resolutely declined to have his hair cut. You know we al- ways cut prisoners hair as soon as he reaches us. We'll, informed him-and I guess my voice sounded pretty decided that he must submit to the rules of the institution or take the consequences. He answered that he'd not have his hair cut. Consequently I ordered him put into one of the dark cells or placed on starvation diet-I forget just what-lln- til he should surrender. It was not 1 long before he sent for me and sta ted that he'd made up his mind to submit. Accordingly had him out of , his cell and placed in the barber's hands, No sooner, however, was he shorn of his hair than he turned to me with as mur- derous an expression as I ever saw on human face, and burst out, his voice trembling with passion You want to look after me, Amos Pillsbury. If ever get chance at you, you're a dead man.
 "Well, not long after receiving this cheerful assurance of the place I held i in his regard, the regular barber of the penitentiary fell i'll and, on learning that Bill hadtonce kept a tonsorial par Tor, T decidedthat he should take the place of the sick man. Then there was trouble again. While was eating my breakfast the day he was to begin bar bering was summoned to the barber shop. I went around, and found that his appointment was giving great dis satisfaction. Why? We'll, one or two of tho men who were present spoke up and remarked in Bills presence that they were afraid to allow such desper- ado to run razor over their faces. That put me on my mettle. ! was young and pretty rash, I suspect, and l then my temper was not so cool as it is now; so exclaimed: Afraid! nonsense | why should you be afraid? I believe that Bills as trustworthy a barber as We ever had in the institution. l need shaving and he shall shave me.
 "With that I hurried off my coat and collar and got into the barber's chair throat well barred. In the circumstances the act was, of course, foolhardy one. I was risking my own life and exposing q bloodthirsty convict to terrible temptation. However, my time hadn't come. I never had Q better shave in my life, although the barber's hand trembled so that was afraid he would accidentally cut me, even if he didn't Intentionally carve me up. When he got through shook hands with him and from that day until his term OK pired he was one of the most exemplary prisoners in the institution, industrious faithful, and cheerfully obedient to all orders.
 "One day after his term expired he related the incident of his shaving me-
 'Why, Bill, didn't you go for Pillsbury ? inquired, the rough to whom he was talking. Lacked sand, chg 'No, re piled Bill, T didn't lack sand. Blu d--n me if I could do him up. H. showed confidence in me, he'd put him self completely in my power. No, couldn't kill as game man as Pillsbury showed himself"